Air carrier flight crew reported while taxing on the ramp they had to stop the aircraft to avoid a vehicle crossing in front of them that failed to yield to the aircraft.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported while taxing on the ramp they had to stop the aircraft to avoid a vehicle crossing in front of them that failed to yield to the aircraft.
Narrative
A utility van using a roadway crossing Taxiway 5W made an initial attempt to cross while we were taxiing forward. We were cleared to taxi and had a taxi light on. It was working too. Pilot Flying saw the van and brought the aircraft to a very sudden stop because we thought he was going to continue to cross; and we would collide. The van stopped. We paused to try to find out what he was going to do. We could not figure out what he was doing. We thought he would back up to go behind the stop line. The van was clear of our wing; so we decided to try to move forward. We turned on the taxi light again and then he shot forward to cut us off before we moved again. We didn't move and reported the incident to Ramp. They saw it and mentioned they were trying to identify and find the Driver. Cause: Airport vehicle cut us off while taxiing.Suggestion: Driver awareness and retraining would help avoid this problem again. Possibly a note warning Pilots of the roadway traffic/congestion crossing Taxiway 5.
Second reporter narrative
Pushback and engine start from Gate XX were uneventful. Received clearance from Ramp to taxi the west line and hold abeam gate XY. Approaching the intersection of 5W and 5 with the taxi light illuminated; I noticed a van driving quickly from the right on the Vehicle Service Road (VSR). I verbalized to the First Officer (FO) that I was uncertain the vehicle was going to stop. The vehicle continued driving and showed no signs of stopping. I immediately braked hard as the nose of the aircraft was on the edge of the VSR. The vehicle finally stopped forward of the #2 Engine and forward of the nose of the aircraft. The vehicle paused for about three to four seconds before continuing to drive in front of the aircraft on the VSR. The FO reported the vehicle to Ramp Control and they said they had seen it. The Controller asked if we noticed any markings which there were not any other than the color. Ramp advised us they were checking cameras. I advised the Flight Attendants why we stopped and made a PA to the Passengers.Cause: Vehicle cut in front of aircraft.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.